The White House Briefing Room
August 14, 1998
PRESS BRIEFING BY MIKE MCCURRY
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary _____________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release August 14, 1998 PRESS BRIEFING BY MIKE MCCURRY The Briefing Room 2:57 P.M. EDT ................. Q What was the President's response to a story in today's Washington Post that Secretary Albright had twice asked the special U.N. team not to conduct surprise inspections in Baghdad? MR. MCCURRY: Our work to consult with Executive Chairman Butler and with UNSCOM is well known to the President, and the work that UNSCOM has been doing in Iraq is something that the President has followed carefully. So I can't tell you that he was at all surprised by the notion that we are having discussions, as Mr. Butler has indicated he's had with other members of the Security Council, properly, in the policy direction that the Council gives to UNSCOM. But the President knows and knows fully what Secretary Albright has already said today -- that UNSCOM alone makes the operational decisions about inspections because they have the mandate to carry out the will of the international community, as reflected in U.N. Security Council resolutions. And the role that we play is the role that any permanent member of the Security Council plays in providing our own counsel and thoughts on how to best perform the mission that's been assigned to UNSCOM. Q Are you disputing any assertions -- MR. MCCURRY: Absolutely, as I think Secretary Albright has been already very forceful in disputing any notion that we direct UNSCOM one way or another on inspections. That is a choice that is left to Mr. Butler and to UNSCOM professionals with the experience and expertise necessary. Q Does the United States believe that perhaps it would be better not to have those challenge inspections, surprise inspections right now? MR. MCCURRY: Look, we, as other members of the Security Council do, share our thoughts and reflect on what the different options are. I think what counts is what decisions are taken by Mr. Butler, as he's indicated he's taken, and then what they actually do in fulfillment of their mandate. Q What thoughts are shared? MR. MCCURRY: Many different thoughts, but I'm not going to get into all the diplomatic exchanges we have within the U.N. Q Considering the fact that the U.S. provides the military muscle that backs up UNSCOM, is it credible to say that if the U.S. expressed an opinion to UNSCOM, they would simply ignore it? MR. MCCURRY: I think it's credible to say that as a permanent member of the Security Council the United States' views are taken with considerable weight. Q But the thrust of the story was not that we were trying to say to UNSCOM it didn't have the final decisionmaking point, but that perhaps the timing was wrong to do it now. MR. MCCURRY: Well, look, the article has said many things, and I think the Secretary has addressed it pretty comprehensively in her remarks. Q Are you denying that we asked UNSCOM to wait? MR. MCCURRY: She made very clear our views on that earlier. Q That wasn't my question. Are you denying that we asked UNSCOM to wait? MR. MCCURRY: We're denying that we have tried to order up inspections or un-order up inspections at a specific time. Q I give up. MR. MCCURRY: Good, thanks. .................. END 3:32 P.M. EDT
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